Public buildings in Herefordshire appear to be clear of the problem of aerated concrete roofing, now raised as a safety issue in hundreds of buildings across the country.
Herefordshire Council says is unaware of any issues relating to the use of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, or RAAC, in any of the public buildings it manages, including its own offices.
“The safety of our staff and visitors is a priority, and all future condition surveys of our buildings that are likely to have RAAC will include a RAAC survey as part of the programme,” its spokesperson said.
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Meanwhile the county's 101 state-funded primary, secondary and special schools appear to have reopened for the new academic year without issue this week.
A council spokesperson earlier said it had begun carrying out investigations for RAAC as part of the condition surveys of all the schools it is responsible for, “and no schools have been found to be immediately affected”.
So far, 21 schools have been classed as free of RAAC, but a further 25 “will require more detailed inspection and more intrusive surveys may be needed on some sites”, the spokesperson added.
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Meanwhile a spokesperson for Wye Valley NHS Trust, which manages the modern Hereford County Hospital as well as Herefordshire’s three community hospitals, said similarly: “None of the Wye Valley estate is affected by this.”
Buildings made using RAAC between the 1950s and 1990s are now a nationwide concern over fears that the panels could give way without warning if compromised by poor maintenance.
The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has said more schools and other public buildings with structural problems could come to light as the Government carries out an “exhaustive” probe into the problem, but that it would “do what it takes” to ensure public safety.
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